Over five days, 206 acts, 119 kids from 11 states, 72 volunteers and 22 judges will have participated in the 2007 American Kids National Finals during which $6,000 in cash prizes, $5,000 recording session, 28 trophies, over 500 medals and two college scholarships will be awarded.
The event will culminate in the AllStar Show at 2 p.m. Friday, July 20, at the Baldknobbers Theatre where 25 of the top acts from the week-long competition will be showcased. One winner will be selected as Performer of the Year and win a $1,000 cash prize and a $5,000 recording session from Voice Recording Studio of Branson. Tickets to the show are $10 and available at the door.
"Before American Idol, Star Search and America's Got Talent, American Kids Inc. has been showcasing the nation's talented young performers for 25 years," said Dr. Dale Smith, founder of the non-profit group dubbed America’s only “little league” of entertainers.
"It all comes down to this Friday afternoon competition, but it started with local, regional and state competitions," said Brenda Hoffstatter, the non-profit group’s national director of competitions. "We appreciate our judges who will be selecting the Performer of the Year as well as those who have judged throughout the week. Judges are a vital part of this competition and without their expertise, our kids would not be able to learn and grow in their talents."
AllStar judges are Ben Brooks of Ben Brooks Marketing who has helped break hits songs for numerous Norah Jones, Creed, Ray Charles, Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. Cheryl Broz, an executive marketing professional, markets and promotes Christian artists to the mainstream. She has worked with Arista Records, EMI Christian Music Group, CMG Global Marketing and Columbia Records among others. Chris Korblein from Los Angeles, guitarist, writer and producer has performed across the country and around the world. The first single on his third CD shot to the top of national radio's most added list and remained there for several weeks. David Sandy is an entertainer and an award-winning show producer responsible for five popular shows in Branson, The Haygoods, Red Skelton, A Tribute by Tom Mullica, Tony Roi's Elvis Experience, Red, Hot & Blue! and Siegfried and Roy present Darren Romeo, The Voice of Magic.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, American Kids is different from other competitions in the performance opportunities given the group’s membership outside of the competition. The organization is open to all youth from ages 3 through high school seniors, alumni, their parents and supporters.
“Our members, with guidance from our certified adult volunteers, present a vast number of shows on the local, regional and national level to share their talent gifts for the benefit of others,” said Hoffstatter.
Numerous college scholarships have been awarded over the past two and a half decades. The two college scholarships that will be awarded during national competition are the $1,000 Taco Mayo Scholarship and the $1,000 Carolyn Snow Memorial Scholarship. Snow, the late wife of Dr. Dale Smith, served as the organization's executive director.
For more information about the 25-year-old program, American Kids Inc., call 1-800-377-8117 or go to the website at americankids.com.
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